Avila Ranch housing project moves forward

The 720-home Avila Ranch project cleared a hurdle with the approval of the San Luis Obispo County Airport Land Use Commission on Dec. 22.

With a 6-1 vote, the commission agreed with a county staff report that the project would not have a negative impact on the economic vitality or efficient operation of the airport. The project meets and exceeds noise, safety, airspace protection and density requirements, “and then some,” staff concluded.

The project, located on 150 acres north of Buckley Road, calls for the construction of 720 homes – less than half of what is allowed by the airport land use plan – over a 10-year span, which should make a sizable dent in the regional housing shortage. It includes a variety of housing types, 15,000 square feet of commercial development, infrastructure improvements, 17 acres of parkland and 50 acres of open space and ag land.

The majority of the housing would be medium-to-high density, ranging from 12 to 24 units per acre. The project also includes an extension of Buckley Road to South Higuera Street, bike path improvements and refurbishing of Tank Farm Creek.

The land, owned by the Avila family since 1910, was annexed into the city in 2008 and designated for residential development in the city’s 2014 Land Use and Circulation Element update.

The SLO Planning Commission and SLO City Council will review the project in mid-2017.